Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that student visas are not used solely to gain residence in the UK.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that cycle lanes are not a danger to (a) visually impaired and (b) blind pedestrians.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Design guidance for cycle infrastructure issued by the Department for Transport sets out that there should be separation of pedestrian and cycle infrastructure wherever possible. This guidance was developed in collaboration with stakeholders, including disability groups.
The Department for Transport established Active Travel England (ATE) to up-skill local authorities, enabling the installation of changes that are well thought through for all modes of travel, and disseminating best practice. As part of this, ATE has recently published a suite of design assistance and scheme review tools to support the development of accessible active travel schemes. The agency has also commissioned West Midlands Combined Authority to undertake research into crossing detection systems.
ATE will continue to work with organisations representing blind and visually impaired people to improve standards and further reduce the rare occasions that collisions occur.
Asked by: Nick Fletcher (Conservative - Don Valley)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he has made an assessment of the potential merits of altering the legislation to enable the Civil Aviation Authority to allow drones to be operated out of the line of sight by the (a) police and (b) armed forces.
Answered by Anthony Browne
Legislation already allows for police to fly drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) when certain conditions are met. Additionally, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the National Police Chiefs’ Council are considering developing a regulatory framework to support police drone use, and the Department for Transport will consider any recommendations they have, including whether any changes to legislation are appropriate.
The armed forces’ use of drones is a matter for the Ministry of Defence to comment on, as it is outside of the remit of civil aviation.